Christian

Not many names wear their meaning quite this openly. Christian means, well, exactly what it says on the tin. It's Latin, it means follower of Christ, and it has been doing that job without any fuss for a very long time.

That directness is part of its appeal. There's no code to crack, no ancient root to explain at parties. It's a name that says what it means and means what it says, which is more than can be said for most of us before a second coffee.

A certain poise

Say it out loud and you'll notice it has a certain poise. Three syllables, evenly weighted, nothing that trips the tongue. It sounds grown-up on a small boy without sounding stuffy, and it sounds distinguished on a grown man without sounding like he's trying. The nickname is Chris, naturally, which is about as easy-going as names get. Christian for the certificate and the cross parent, Chris for the football and the pub.

Across the world it keeps a respectable rather than roaring profile. It's number 62 in the United States and 91 in Mexico City, then settles into the 200s in Canada and Brazil, and the 300s in New Zealand, Catalonia and England & Wales. It even charts in Argentina, at 515. In other words, it's known and liked everywhere, but you're unlikely to find three in one reception class. For a lot of parents that's exactly the balance they're after: familiar, not ubiquitous.

The company it keeps

Among its namesakes, one stands head and shoulders above the rest for anyone who has ever read a bedtime story. Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish writer and poet, is the one everybody knows. And on the telly, Christian Shephard was a character in the series Lost, which proves the name can survive a fair bit of plot. Storyteller and mystery man: a nice pair of reference points to have.

In a sibling line-up, Christian has an obvious set of friends. It sits comfortably next to Andrew, Matthew and Daniel, and it pairs with Sarah or Elizabeth as if they'd been introduced by a mutual acquaintance. These are names that feel like they've been around forever, and that's no accident, because they have.

The only thing to weigh up is that Christian is a name with a meaning some people will notice more than others. It's warm and traditional to many ears and perfectly ordinary to most, but it does carry its message on the outside rather than tucked away in an etymology. If you like a name with a clear identity, that's a strength. If you'd rather keep everyone guessing, you might prefer something that hides its cards.

Which brings us, inevitably, to the agonising bit. You'll like it, then wonder if it's too obvious, then decide obvious is fine, then spot another name entirely. Round and round it goes. Following something is easy. Choosing what to follow is the hard part.